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Sonny Bill Williams appears to have picked a side in the Quade Cooper-Brad Thorn 'beef'.

Earlier this week, Cooper fired a shot – or a fend – at the Queensland Reds coach after signing a new deal with the Melbourne Rebels.

The former Wallabies star posted an image of himself fending off Thorn with the caption: "Sometimes you are forced out of the place you love but thank god there's more than one place that loves me."

He later posted another cryptic message – "looking forward to playing learning and ENJOYING my rugby at the [Melbourne Rebels]" – offering an insight into his frustrations with the time he spent at the Reds during Thorn's tenure.

Cooper was banished to the sidelines after Thorn refused to play him in this year's Super Rugby season, leaving the mercurial first-five to ply his trade in club rugby while being paid more than AU$600,000.

And now Cooper's longtime buddy Williams has offered his take on the whole saga.

"I'll always support my bro. I will always support Quade and that situation is no different," said the typically respectful Williams from Tokyo ahead of the All Blacks' third Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies tomorrow.

"He's very driven and I think the year off has enhanced that … hopefully he doesn't go too well against the Blues but I'm happy that he'll be suiting back up in Super Rugby. I'm excited to see him back out there.

"I always talk to him [Cooper]. My kids love him, he's a good man, he's got a good heart, so I always make time for Quade."